Skepta’s New Single’s Artwork Sparks Debate And Comparisons To Kanye West

After releasing the artwork for his new track, Skepta is being compared to Kanye West—and not in a good way.

The UK artist debuted the new song’s artwork on Instagram on Monday (January 8) following the announcement of a new album and its lead track, “Gas Me Up (Diligent),” earlier this month. In the now-deleted picture, there are several people with shaved heads from the back, and one of them has the tattoo “Gas Me Up.”

Immediately, the image sparked analogies to The Holocaust, which in turn called Kanye’s previous antisemitic remarks into question. Skepta has also issued an apology following social media accusations.

Shortly after sharing the artwork on Monday, Skepta took it down from his social media accounts. Skepta said he had withdrawn the single artwork and apologized in an early Tuesday morning message on X, the platform that was once known as Twitter.

Later on, he revealed a “mood board” he had put up for the single art, which included pictures of skinheads and the logo for 2 Tone Records, an independent ska label that worked to advance racial equality in the late 1970s and early 1980s music industry.

I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention. But after some thought I don’t feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed, I have to… pic.twitter.com/59oUOPe8Hp

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

On January 26, “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” is scheduled for release.